From paving and decorative chippings to plants and garden furniture, you'll be able to deck out your own personal paradise ahead of the summer months with help from the friendly, family-run business.

Home to over 65,000 discounted bargains throughout the store for your home, garden, pets and DIY needs - look no further than Chaplins.

Lynda Thompson and her daughter, Vanessa Chaplin, have a winning formula of, "Stack it high and sell it cheap", which means homeowners can visit Chaplins safe in the knowledge they will find exactly what they are looking for - and all at competitive prices.

Chaplins, both in Plympton and here in Taunton, is a wash with colour at this time of the year

After more than 35 years of successfully selling its gardening range, Chaplins certainly seems to have the right idea. Green-fingered Lynda says: "People are being more adventurous with their gardens and that’s why we must keep the costs down because there’s no point providing the luxurious if people can’t afford it.

"This isn't a shop for window shopping, it’s a shop for shopping at costs they can afford. Lots of people know us by name, so they often come up to us asking for help – all our staff are friendly and on hand to give advice.

"What I say is, the customer is king and without them, we’re not wanted."

When asked what she thinks keeps customers coming back time and time again to the family business, Lynda said that it is not only their personal touches, but also the great diversity of plants Chaplins provides.

“I think what draws you in is the variety we have here - we like to provide something a little different. I do love this business and have no plans to retire anytime soon. I really enjoy seeing customers I've known for many years."

The business's no-frills, back-to-basics approach and hands-on management allows Chaplins to be more nimble-footed in its buying policy than many other retail outlets. If they see an opportunity they seize it and are able to introduce new lines without recourse to a long decision-making chain.

Chaplins is full of beautiful plants to enhance your garden

With new stock arriving daily, beautiful colours filling the space, a large variety to choose from and helpful tips from the long-standing green-fingered employees - this is the place to go if you want to wow your guests this year.

Lynda emphasises that times are changing, and that the gardening centre has had to adapt to the different needs of local people.

She says: “I think people are swaying more towards herbaceous and alpines that they can plant and then forget about it. They like a garden to be easily manageable.

"Then you get the customer who wants a lot of colour and they don’t mind every year spending out on bedding. When I buy stock I consider that customers like colour and they know what they’re going to find then when they come here.

“We do a lot of vegetable and fruit trees including rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes so our gardening range is quite comprehensive and we try to buy from Holland and buy different to give them an alternative choice.

“More and more children and grown ups are enjoying growing their own and it's becoming very popular with the increasing cost of vegetables."

Find unique pieces to brighten up any space

Chaplins has a lovely selection of good-quality garden furniture in store and despite keeping a cheaper range, it likes to ensure customers take away goods that will last year on year, providing tables, chairs, tables, parasoles and hammocks to kit out your favourite space.

Having been open for more than half a century, Chaplins now welcomes a second and third generation of customers who want to bring some character to their new home and garden area.

“In the garden we’ve got everything you can imagine to cater for a new home from solar lighting to china pots, fencing, shrubs and grasses," Lynda said.

“If you’ve got a new house and you’re a young couple wanting to do up their new garden, you can enhance your garden from across the board. It's important to us to keep the prices very reasonable – we’ve got great quality but at crazy low prices. This year we have had an amazing year and we find people enjoy coming back to our garden centre which is always full of colour and choice."

She added: “We basically provide everything you need in order to start from scratch if you’ve got a new home, including more detailed pieces to make your garden really stand out."

Many years ago Chaplins introduced the “55 Club” which gives 10 per cent discount on most items across the store for over-55 customers on a Tuesday and Thursday, making this the perfect time to buy if you are a maturer customer.

Stand-out items you need to create the perfect summer garden:

Vegetable strips

From radishes to mangetout, pea sugar snaps, butternut squash, courgettes, pumpkins, peppers, aubergines and many more, grow your own from just £1.

Turf, compost and grow bags

Create the lawn of your dreams and the perfect base for growing a variety of plants.

Chippings

Chippings in a variety of colours and sizes can complete your garden and with prices starting from just £2.99 per bag, this is the perfect element needed to give it a luxurious feel.

China pots

In a range of sizes, colours and designs to add a little colour and character to your garden, there is no end of china pots to choose from at Chaplins.

Rockery

Rockery can give your garden depth and structure. Prices start from £4.99 each of three for £12.

Stepping stones

Chaplins has a variety of traditional and quirky stepping stones, these paw print stones in buff gold are only £5.99 each.

Chilli pepper plants

Grow your own to eat while you admire what you have created with the store's huge range from just £2.59.

Roses

A large selection of roses including Congratulations and Bride and Groom roses are on sale to brighten up your space from £8.99.

Calla lily

These beautiful plants, native to southern Africa from South Africa north to Malawi, come in two sizes. The larger plant costs £19.99 and the smaller are just £6.99.

Seeds

With hundreds of seeds to choose from including flowers, herbs and vegetables from as little as 99p each, your garden will be full of texture and colour.

Hanging baskets

It's not just the back garden that deserves your attention - add some elegance to your entrance with these hanging baskets filled with flowers starting at just £7.99.

Rotundas

Bring an elegance and sophistication to your garden with this compass rotunda in buff gold priced at £64.99.

Furniture

Enjoy time with loved ones this summer with this rectangular six-seat patio set costing £449.99.

Sit back and admire your hard work with this wooden, two-seater bench priced at £89.99.

Picture a family BBQ on a warm day with this four-piece curved Rattan set marked at £299.

There is a new selection of exquisite garden ornaments on sale in store from £8.99.

Fun for all the family

Ensure the garden is a fun space for all the family by kitting it out with a large paddling pool from the store's extensive range.

For further information about Chaplins, call the Plymouth store on 01752 202700 or the Taunton store on 01823 288017, or click here to visit the website. You'll find Chaplins Superstore at Galileo Close, Newnham Industrial Estate, Plympton, PL7 4JW.

There is free parking which is convenient for all, and opening hours are 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and 10am to 4pm on Sundays (open at 9.30am for viewing on Sundays).